| Historically, when a natural disaster
creates a tragedy, such as what has occurred in New Orleans from the effects
of hurricane Katrina, aid is rushed to the site and action is taken quickly
to alleviate suffering. However, it can be difficult for us to watch
this suffering especially when it was only months ago that we watched the
disastrous events in southeast Asia due to the tsunami. There is also
the constant awareness of a war in Iraq which has stirred up controversy and
disrupted people's lives on very personal levels. Even though we may
not be directly experiencing the effects of these tragedies, indirectly we
cannot help but be affected. What
happens to a human being when faced with tragedy repeatedly be it their own
tragedy or that of someone else? The normal physiological reaction is
to go into a state of shock. A state of shock is the body's initial
response of attempting to sort through the many bits of data the human
psyche is faced with while also protecting itself. When the human mind
is in shock, it also becomes an easy target for hidden fears to take hold
and develop. If one is not aware of this, a permanent or
semi-permanent state of fear can live in the human psyche. Chronic
fear leads to distrust of our judgment and truth which can create a distrust
of others. The only healer and opposition to fear is love, compassion
and kindness.
We are currently faced with the dilemma of
how to respond to our own reactions and emotions to both personal and world
pain and suffering. There is the energy of the human spirit that
connects all of us whether it is our biological family, a complete stranger,
or adversary. It is part of being alive at this time in history.
Historically, our life force depends on the
interdependence of others. We cannot survive without understanding the
networking of our society and the commonalities of our resources. It
is difficult to be our greatest selves without relationship to others.
As we watch individuals continue to struggle
with survival, we still have the opportunity to choose how we can best deal
with our part of the responsibility. We have a responsibility to
others in need, but also a responsibility to take care of ourselves and to
maintain an inner balance as we experience the severity of these current
events. |
